EDITOR’S NOTE: To many who are familiar with the extortion racket – the solution is simple. The extortion shootings and violence is being perpetrated by criminals from India who have migrated to Canada through the Liberal government’s ill-advised student program and are now creating havoc with the extortion racket that is very common in big cities in India. There may be Indian intelligence agencies involved as well but police need to infiltrate these known criminals groups and individuals who are carrying out these shootings in Surrey now but across Canada. These individuals are obviously moving around largely from Surrey to Brampton and police need to crack these groups and arrest the shooters and deport them immediately. And another tactic the Surrey Police can borrow from Vancouver Police which took down a number of high powered Indo-Canadian and other gangsters in the City by hook or crook ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics. With the World Cup soccer (football) coming to Vancouver this summer, Surrey Police will have to get their act together quickly and takedown these mostly foreign criminals from India and stop the extortion menace that has devastated the South Asian business community and other individuals. By R. Paul Dhillon – Editor DESIBUZZCanada

By Promod Puri

It felt less like a discussion and more like a confrontation at the CBC Town Hall, where police officials, politicians, radio hosts, and residents—mostly South Asian—gathered to talk about Surrey’s alarming wave of extortion crimes.

Speaker after speaker turned their frustration toward the Surrey Police and the RCMP, recounting threats of shootings, intimidation, and demands for money that have shaken families and businesses across the rapidly growing community.

Despite reassurances from law-enforcement officials that their joint efforts are finally producing some encouraging results, most residents weren’t buying it. Their anger centered on what they saw as slow progress—if any—in restoring safety and a sense of security in Surrey.

But while criticism flew freely, concrete ideas from the floor were scarce.

To many who are familiar with the extortion racket – the solution is simple. The extortion shootings and violence is being perpetrated by criminals from India who have migrated to Canada through the Liberal government’s ill-advised student program and are now creating havoc with the extortion racket that is very common in big cities in India. 

There may be Indian intelligence agencies involved as well but police need to infiltrate these known criminals groups and individuals who are carrying out these shootings in Surrey now but across Canada. These individuals are obviously moving around largely from Surrey to Brampton and police need to crack these groups and arrest the shooters and deport them immediately.

I’m no expert on policing, but one practical approach seems obvious: more plainclothes officers in unmarked cars patrolling Surrey’s neighbourhoods, especially at night. Multiple teams on rotating rounds could offer both deterrence and quicker response times.

Perhaps this is already being done. If not, it’s a simple, actionable measure worth serious consideration.

And another tactic the Surrey Police can borrow from Vancouver Police which took down a number of high powered Indo-Canadian and other gangsters in the City by hook or crook ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics. With the World Cup soccer (football) coming to Vancouver this summer, Surrey Police will have to get their act together quickly and takedown these mostly foreign criminals from India and stop the extortion menace that has devastated the South Asian business community and other individuals.

Promod Puri is an author and veteran journalist who is the founder and former editor-publisher of the South Asian LINK Newspaper.